Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish an asylum processing centre in Calais.

The UK has a strong track record of cooperating with France to manage illegal migration and to protect our shared border. However, the primary responsibility for asylum seekers lies with the authorities of the Member State in which they are present; the UK Government does not have the authority to operate on the territory of another sovereign state without permission. We are also under no obligation to consider asylum claims lodged outside UK territory.

As part of the Sandhurst Treaty, signed between the UK and France on 18 January 2018, both parties agreed to further enhance cooperation in a number of areas, including illegal migration and asylum. This includes a number of measures in respect of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and children, and a commitment to support France in its provision of accommodation facilities located outside the Calais and Dunkirk areas. Further information on the treaty can be found here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-01-19/HCWS415/.